What happens when economic power, political influence, and public frustration collide?

In this episode, I'm joined by acclaimed sociologist and author Charles Derber to discuss his book Fighting Oligarchy: How Positive Populism Can Reclaim America.

Derber argues that America is facing a growing crisis of concentrated power — and that the answer may lie in building a broad, democratic populist movement capable of challenging oligarchy while resisting authoritarianism.

We explore the history of populism in the United States, the political forces shaping the current moment, and what a more inclusive and constructive vision of populism could look like.

When we think about the American Revolution, names like Washington and Lafayette often take center stage—but what if one of the most critical players in the final victory has been largely overlooked?

Today's guest is historian and author James Giesler, who brings to light a fascinating and underappreciated story in his book, Francisco De Saavedra's American Revolutionary War: The Spanish Contribution to The Battle of Yorktown.

This is the story of Francisco de Saavedra, a Spanish official whose behind-the-scenes diplomacy, financial strategy, and international coordination helped make the decisive victory at Battle of Yorktown possible.

Why do certain stories stay with us long after we've finished reading them?

In this episode, I'm joined by author and literary scholar Caroline Bicks, the inaugural Stephen E. King Chair in Literature at the University of Maine, to discuss her fascinating new book, Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King.

As the first scholar granted extended access to Stephen King's private archives, Bicks explored unpublished manuscripts, handwritten notes, and decades of creative material in search of an answer readers have asked for generations:

What makes Stephen King's stories haunt us?

This conversation dives into fear, storytelling, creativity, and the psychology behind one of the most influential writers of our time.

Few figures loom larger in American history than George Washington — but how well do we really know the man behind the legend?

In this episode, I'm joined by Pulitzer Prize finalist and bestselling historian H. W. Brands to discuss his new biography, American Patriarch: The Life of George Washington.

This is Brands' first major presidential biography since Reagan: The Life, and here he turns his attention to America's first president — offering a sweeping portrait that reveals Washington not just as a symbol, but as a complex, evolving human being.

This conversation explores leadership, character, legacy, and the enduring influence of one of history's most consequential figures.

Sometimes, the most powerful acts of courage come from the youngest voices.

In this episode, I'm joined by author María Dolores Águila to discuss her middle grade novel in verse, A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez.

Inspired by the real-life Lemon Grove Incident, the book tells the story of a young boy who finds the courage to stand up against injustice — and the community that stands with him.

This is a conversation about history, resilience, cultural identity, and the power of storytelling to bring overlooked moments into the light.

In this episode, I'm joined by author Alexa Morris to discuss the powerful memoir The Courtyard, co-written with her father-in-law, Benjamin Parket.

Set during the Nazi occupation of Paris, the book tells the extraordinary true story of how a group of neighbors came together to hide Benjamin and his family for two years — risking everything in an act of quiet, collective courage.

This is a conversation about survival, moral bravery, and the profound impact of ordinary people choosing to do the right thing.

What if the nation-state — the system that has shaped global politics for centuries — is no longer the dominant force in our world?

In this episode, I'm joined by internationally acclaimed novelist and essayist Rana Dasgupta, winner of the Windham-Campbell Prize, to discuss his ambitious and thought-provoking book, After Nations: The Making and Unmaking of a World Order.

We explore how globalization, technology, finance, and shifting power structures are reshaping the world — and what might come after the traditional idea of nations. This is a conversation about history, power, identity, and the uncertain future of global order.

What if the most powerful way to fight cancer… isn't treatment — but prevention?

In this episode, I'm joined by physician and medical researcher Adam Barsouk to discuss his book Outsmarting Cancer: Risk Reduction and the Power of Prevention.

Rather than focusing only on cures, Dr. Barsouk takes a broader view — exploring the many factors that contribute to cancer risk, from biology and environment to diet, infections, and lifestyle.

This conversation is about understanding risk, making informed choices, and rethinking how we approach one of the most urgent health challenges of our time.

What happens when ambition meets deception… inside one of the most elite institutions in the world?

In this episode, I'm joined by author J. R. Thornton to discuss his literary thriller Lucien.

Set against the backdrop of Harvard University, the novel follows a gifted artist on a full scholarship who becomes entangled with a wealthy, enigmatic roommate — a relationship that spirals into manipulation, obsession, and psychological tension.

Drawing inspiration from real-life figures like Christian Gerhartsreiter and Adam Wheeler, Lucien explores identity, privilege, and the dangerous allure of reinvention.

Why does it feel like Congress can't get anything done — even when the stakes are so high?

In this episode, I'm joined by political scientist and senior fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, Maya L. Kornberg, to discuss her book Stuck: How Money, Media, and Violence Prevent Change in Congress.

Drawing on congressional records and interviews with lawmakers, Maya reveals a system under strain — shaped by relentless fundraising, shrinking staff capacity, the pressures of social media, and even the threat of political violence.

But this isn't just a diagnosis. It's also a roadmap for reform — and a conversation about how Congress could actually start working again.